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    The Sawyer

    3.9 (180 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    The Sawyer Photos

    THE SAWYER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Sawyer

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    Reviews With Photos

    Burger
    Stephanie Y.

    If you have kids, The Sawyer has been a great spot for some fun family dining a bit outside of town in Truckee. Nestled in the private community of Schaeffer's Mill, the Sawyer is the "club" for those that live there, but for us normies that don't live in the gated community, it's a restaurant open to the public ONLY with reservations (that are limited times). Seemingly you can only get a rezzie before 5pm. Fine with us. Beautiful views, surrounded by trees, the outdoor patio dining in the summer was a treat. The food is a solid 4, but between ambiance and service, it's really great. Inside is large and airy, and quite popular, with a beautiful bar area, as well. It's nestled on the 'Square', a green space, where we enjoyed our drinks while the kids played with a ball we always have in our car, while we waited for our food. Adjacent is a great playground for kids. Foodwise - really good. I've had better, but honestly, for Truckee, it's good and prices comparative as dining in town. The blueberry watercress salad with salmon was great, the steak baguette was more served on Dutch Crunch vs a French baguette and was huge and indulgent, the burgers have been solid and the kids loved the kids menu with pizza and burgers. I wouldn't order the Caesar again, but that was just me. We did back to back Friday nights at The Sawyer and we agreed: a great spot for family friendly dining.

    Crispy bird
    Jill C.

    Recently came back to the Sawyer again for another dinner. They warned us (both the hostess and the server) that the kitchen was really backed up and food could take upwards of 25 minutes. Not ideal, but we figured we'd get drinks and see how it went. We ordered the burrata board to start with a blueberry bourbon smash cocktail. Cocktail was tasty but noticed the blueberry garnish still has stems on it. Burrata board was very tasty - the berries and tomatoes were so fresh and lovely. The crackers were plain but we loved the toasted baguette slices. For entrees we got the steak sandwich and the millionaire burger. Both were cooked beautifully and as we asked. The steak was one solid piece which felt an odd choice for a sandwich (rather than chopped or sliced) but was tasty. Atmosphere was lively - we were seated near a fireplace closer to the bar area. One note: the booth we were seated in could have used a wipe down and vacuum...lots of crumbs in the corners. Overall a great place to go for a bite when we are feeling too lazy to cook.

    Short rib
    Mary D.

    We came here to celebrate my wife's birthday and we sat at the bar. The bartender (teresa?) was lovely. She was super friendly and knowledgeable. She makes excellent drinks as well. I ordered the short rib and it was heavenly. The restaurant is located in a gated community and gold course. Nice restaurant with good vibes. Will definitely make a trip back here when we are in town.

    Lauren L.

    Came here twice in one week on vacation. First with our son, all the food was impeccable. Waygu burger was beyond, tied for my favie burger ever. Towards the end of the week we came back again, just my husband and I. After a very long day driving around the lake because of a visit on the trashy south side of the lake, I didn't want to go to our reserved restaurant and instead wanted to return here. It was another delicious meal. One of the best!

    Blueberry and watercress salad with crispy salmon filet
    Adriane M.

    The food was great and servers were on top of it. We ordered a mix of salads, entrees, apps and the cookie skillet for dessert. We had an energetic toddler in our party and the staff were patient and friendly with her too.

    Steak
    Amanda M.

    Excellent Food & Service. Chef knows what they are doing! Beautiful restaurant. Try to snag outdoor table overlooking the golf course. Definitely would return & recommend to all!

    Chicken fried chicken
    John K.

    Excellent place to take in a view for an early dinner. Great pizzas. Burgers. And fried chicken. Place is nice enough for date night or a special occasion and also casual enough for the kids or to watch a game. Go early (before sunset) because the views are amazing! Friend chicken A- Burger A+ Pizza B+ Brussels C+ Gabby was our server and she made the experience so enjoyable and fun. Thanks gabby!

    Burger

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    2 years ago

    Omg! The rib appetizers might just be the best ribs I've ever had. We'll be back for sure.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - The Sawyer

    Visiting from Bay Area and want to treat our Truckee friends to lunch. Need warm outdoor seating. Have a small dog who can be crated if necessary.Reservations?

    Hello Jomary, We will be happy to welcome your party to The Sawyer! Can you let me know how many… Read more

    Are dogs allowed on the patio?

    Yes dogs are allowed on the patio if leashed and quiet. I've seen several people bring their leashed dogs and they sit under the tabLes outside. So nice. They can't allow them indoors

    View All 3 Questions

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    We stayed right across the street from Jax and decided to stop in for lunch…read more We ordered the clam chowder and a beef dip sandwich to share. The clam chowder was excellent--just the way my wife likes it. It was on the soupier side with bacon, celery, plenty of clam meat, and just the right amount of potatoes. Definitely something we'd order again. The beef dip, unfortunately, was pretty lackluster. The sandwich was simply sliced roast beef without much flavor, and the au jus was also very mild. I ended up adding some flavor crystals (salt) just to bring it up to "meh." On the positive side, the fries were good. Overall though, it's not something I'd recommend or order again. The staff was great. When our server heard we were sharing, they kindly split the sandwich and fries onto two plates for us, which we appreciated. We'd probably return at some point. I saw a few burgers go by that definitely gave me some lunch envy.

    I have been here before and thought the food was good so I didn't hesitate to recommend this to my…read morehusband for dinner one night- granted I had been here about 25 years ago prior. Love the idea of this place, it was quiet and had the place to ourselves it seemed. The service was fantastic! But the food fell a little short of our expectations! The banana milkshake was great. The burgers were good according to my husband and son but the BLT was such a disappointment and the onion rings had burned bits all in the bottom of the tray. I don't like their "plates"- not sure how they clean and maintain the cutting board they serve the food on but seems like a breeding ground for bacteria? Just not a fan. I was hoping after being on Diners Drive-ins and Dives that the quality should be there, even something as simple and basic as a BLT should be stellar or just take it off of the menu. Sadly I won't be coming back- prices were high for the quality.

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    Truckee Tavern and Grill - Roasted carrots

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    3.8(607 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$$

    We keep coming back to Truckee Tavern every time we're in town, and it keeps earning it. The food…read moreis reliable across the board, which is harder than it sounds for a full-service bar and grill. The mushroom quinoa veggie burger and the half-pound cheeseburger are our go-to orders and have never let us down. The coffee roasted carrots are genuinely worth ordering. They're not what you'd expect, and they're good enough that we've ordered them the last two times. The 10 oz. bistro filet is worth trying if you're in the mood for something more substantial. Portions are solid without being excessive. The bar is a real draw. Full bar, decent wine list, and the service at the bar is attentive without being pushy. The cocktails are well made. The old fashioned in the photo says everything you need to know. What surprised us most: the to-go orders are actually good. We've been burned by to-go from places we love before, so this was a pleasant surprise. Quality holds up. They take reservations and handle groups well. Go ahead and book ahead if you're coming on a weekend. Get the carrots. Order a cocktail at the bar while you wait for your table.

    Usually our absolute fave! But quality is slipping. Not sure why... and so sad about it!…read more This place has been so special to us for years. Amazing service. Dynamite and delicious food. The best roasted carrots (usually!) But the other night we took friends there after raving. Hats off to the amazing host for seating us even though we accidentally made the wrong reservation date (their friendly service is still stellar!!) My pork chop was overcooked even after saying let the chef decide how to cook it. Dry and hard to cut. The normally amazing roasted carrots? Meh. Had a strange taste we didn't like. Maybe the coffee rub? Just seemed hard and flavorless. And my husband and son shared a ribeye that was overdone even though they asked for medium rare. Too tough on outside for sure. The mashed potatoes still rock. And they were out of TWO their signature cocktails. Poor planning? Or take it off the menu. Not sure if the chef or management has changed but I really really hope they get it back together. As I said, this place has meant a lot to us over the years. Hope it was just an off night?

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    The Sawyer - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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